Hi Milliepede, JenB & Pennines,
Many thanks for your replies, very much appreciated.
Milliepede, I certainly have checked under Stevenson as an alternative spelling, never hurts to be reminded though!
A Pilot then was a ship's pilot, a local person who navigated ships up river as he knew the area. All children had left home by 1861, just John and wife. The possible death in Newcastle is certainly one to keep on file as a possibility, thanks for that!
JenB, it is as you correctly surmised his occupation, thanks for that!
Pennines, Hmmm, I might have missed that! One of their daughters was Ann Jane Stephenson who has been known to be either Ann or Jane, and its entirely possible that I may have just possibly thought that maybe mother Ann was doing the same! That marriage in 1858 however puts a slightly different complexion on things! John's father's name is at this time unknown to me. I shall definitely have to check that marriage out!
Having had a quick look at deaths in the Tynemouth reg district between 1851 & 1861 there are two possibles.
1851 December qtr aged 22 years, therefore not her!
1857, March qtr aged 65 years. Ann would have been 61, so a possible there!
That would still leave John's death to find.
My thanks to you all again.
Kind regards
David